Showtime Announces 'SHOWTIME ANYTIME™,' The Network's New Authenticated Broadband Service

NEW YORK, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Showtime Networks has launched SHOWTIME ANYTIME, a new, broadband video-streaming service that will be free to SHOWTIME subscribers through the network's cable, satellite and telco affiliates. SHOWTIME ANYTIME gives subscribers the flexibility to watch more than 400 hours of the network's critically acclaimed, award-winning programming, hit movies and sports offerings online, whenever and wherever they'd like to watch it – at home, at the office, or on the go. The announcement was made by Matthew C. Blank, Chairman and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc.

Access to the service may vary by operator – subscribers will either go to ShowtimeAnytime.com, launching commercially later this year, or gain access through their operator's "TV Everywhere" portal. SHOWTIME subscribers will need to present credentials supplied by their television provider to watch programs on the service. Users will be able to browse the service online, however to watch the network's programming, the viewer will need to be an authenticated SHOWTIME subscriber. Comcast customers can access the service now through Xfinity TV's online service at XfinityTV.com. Additional participating MSOs will be announced at a later date.

"We're excited to be able to offer this added-value service to our subscribers," said Blank. "With SHOWTIME ANYTIME, our subscribers will have access to their favorite programs online with an easy-to-use service that provides the flexibility to choose where and when they would like to watch our content."

SHOWTIME ANYTIME will offer current and past seasons of the network's hit series that include DEXTER™, WEEDS, CALIFORNICATION, NURSE JACKIE, THE BIG C, UNITED STATES OF TARA™, THE REAL L WORD™, THE TUDORS, SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL, and the upcoming comedy and drama series EPISODES, SHAMELESS and THE BORGIAS. Subscribers will also have access to the network's hit movies, including Academy Award® winner THE HURT LOCKER, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, TWILIGHT, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON and ECLIPSE, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, SAW V, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA and W. among many others. Additionally, the service will provide a diverse mix of comedy specials, provocative documentaries, and hard-hitting sports programming including SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®, INSIDE NASCAR, the SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC™ and STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS MIXED MARTIAL ARTS.

At launch, ShowtimeAnytime.com will provide users with an intuitive navigation that makes it easy to find, catch-up on and discover SHOWTIME programs. The "My List" feature enables subscribers to customize their viewing experience online, by creating a personalized list of programs to watch. Subscribers can also opt to have new episodes of their favorite series automatically added to "My List" as they premiere on the network. The service will not only enhance SHOWTIME subscribers' experience, but also complements their existing viewing habits. Research shows that premium subscribers time shift more than the average consumer, with 40 percent of original program viewing coming from DVR or On Demand viewing for premium customers as compared with the broadcast networks.

SHOWTIME subscribers have grown 30 percent in the past five years and the significant growth trend continues in 2010, finishing 2Q10 with 18.2 million subscribers, up 1.6 million (9 percent) from a year ago (2Q09).

Sources: The Nielsen Company; NPOWER, average time-period playback % based on live + 7 primetime viewing in 2Q10; SNL Kagan.

About Showtime Networks Inc.:

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

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SOURCE Showtime Networks